Renault considering RS SUV

Renault is considering adding an SUV to its Renault Sport performance range, which for years has comprised just two hot hatches: the Clio RS and Megane RS.

The French car-maker's global sales and marketing chief Jerome Stoll said the decision to add a third RS model would be made subsequent to its decision to either leave Formula 1 or reform its own wholly owned team, but stressed that Renault's F1 involvement would ideally leverage an expanded RS sports car range.

"This will be part of the strategy," he said at this week's Frankfurt motor show. "Regarding the bridge between F1 and road car, we are reconsidering completely the strategy for the sporty car.

"For the time being we have the Clio and Megane [RS]. We have a lot of pressure to extend, we are considering that. We have a lot of pressure to increase the power of the engine, so today we are looking at the possibility."

Stoll said the decision to add a third RS model would depend on Renault's F1 commitment, the cost of investment and the return on that capital, but also the performance car strategy of its Japanese sister brand in the Renault Nissan Alliance.

"The [RS range] extension is entry ticket and return on investment. We are discussing very closely with Nissan because Nissan has its own strategy with NISMO.

"To see how we can combine the use of powertrains in order to bring more power, we have to have the right power and the right car to make the car a sporty proposition."

In a subsequent interview with motoring.com.au Renault's global RS chief Regis Fricotte confirmed the expansion plan, and its relationship to F1.

"Obviously the ideal for us is to have both working together," he said. "Our involvement in F1 is supported by a range of road cars.

"I think that's something Renault does extremely well in Australia. For the last three or four years the involvement of Renault at the time of the GP with special editions, events and a lot of commitment, it makes complete sense.

"So that's what we try to achieve and our strategy is to get more into that direction. Now the decision for F1 is not made yet. We'll see when it is."

Fricotte indicated a third model line was central to Renault Sport's target of doubling its recent annual sales of between 35,000 and 40,000 RS cars.

"Our ambition is to double sales within the next two, three, four years, he said, adding that he hoped synergies with motorsport would help drive that growth.

"To be very clear, for Renault there is a point developing our motorsport commitment if on the other side there is a development of the business in road cars – the Renault Sport range – so our objective is to grow the sales of the RS derivatives."

Fricotte then suggested an SUV was the number one candidate to become the third RS model.

"SUV? We can look at. It's part of the options that you have. If you look at all the other manufacturers you can see SUV with sports version, so there is no reason we shouldn't.

"I'm not telling you there is going to be one or when, but obviously we're looking at it if it's feasible, if there is a market for us, if the business model makes sense or not."

Asked if Renault Sport would produce its own bespoke model, Fricotte said: "As such, no."

He made it clear any potential RS SUV would need to be based on an existing Renault model.

"What we do is make derivatives of Renault cars that have an interest to attract some sport customer looking for performance.

"We do derivatives. If you look at all the RS models, we take Renault models and derivate some sports version.

"So we look at every option there is to derive some cars. For example Espace doesn't make sense. So we're not going to introduce RS on Espace."

Fricotte declined to say which Renault would be the best candidate for RS treatment, but ruled out an RS version of any future Alpine SUV model that could be based on the Nissan Gripz concept.

"Today in the Renault range we've got Koleos, Kadjar and Captur, so we're looking at what exists today and what could exist in the future," he said.

Renault's biggest SUV, the Koleos, will soon be replaced by a large, unnamed seven-seat SUV, while the Kadjar is a new mid-size SUV not currently sold in Australia that would require ground-up powertrain development.

Then there is Renault's smallest global SUV, the Captur, which is based on same platform as the Clio. The Clio RS is currently produced in the same historic Dieppe plant that will manufacture the new Alpine coupe.

The Clio RS – Australian sales of which account for 10 per cent of global volume, making our market the second largest for RS after France – is powered by a Nissan-sourced 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine that could also be fitted to the Captur RS.

During a tour of the Dieppe plant earlier this week, motoring.com.au was told it currently produces 30 Clio RS cars a day and that the factory would be ready to produce double that number of Alpines a day by the end of 2016.

But Dieppe's maximum capacity is 200 vehicles a day, meaning there's scope to build at least 100 Captur RS SUVs a day if it so chose.

Conversely, Fricotte ruled out a Megane RS wagon on the basis of limited demand and dilution of the RS brand.

"No. The problem would be if Megane RS is a derivative then to make a derivative of a derivative then we end up in a little tiny niche," he said.

"I'm not sure the Megane RS estate would have big enough volume.

"But SUV is a growing segment everywhere in the world. I believe in terms of potential... SUV is not another derivative, it's not another body type.

"A GT [wagon] yes. There is a wide enough customer base to consider a GT estate, but an RS wagon?

"Performance you battle against weight. It's a little bit contradictory to say well let's do an estate RS.

"If I'm saying at the same time we want to protect the brand because it has values and we're not going to put it everywhere I can't say we'll make all the derivatives of RS.

"SUV is another kind of vehicle positioning and technical specification. It's not the same kind of vehicle."

Fricotte insisted increasing sales with an RS would not diminish the strength of Renault's performance brand.

"Before we bastardise the Renault Sport name we've got potential to increase RS sales and we've got a lot more customers to reach.

"Because when you look at the different sports segments and where our competition is in Europe and different countries were we are, I think there is still potential to increase sales volume without affecting, jeopardising or damaging the brand.

"At this stage I'm not too concerned about that. For me the RS name needs to be increased because it supports Renault."